Co-Editor-In-Chief: Justin Morales
This holiday season, Starbucks is selling more than annual, limited-time drinks; the coffee-chain is also selling a $40 bear-shaped cup that’s quickly sparked conflict among Starbucks loyalists and merchandise collectors. While it’s true that the introduction of the holiday “Bearista Cup” – and the infamous problems surrounding its release – can serve as a cautionary tale in product launches, the high-demand serves as the latest example of overconsumption in the United States.
The end of the calendar year brings the holiday season with it, and as a result, major corporations and retailers take advantage of the gift-giving tradition by fueling the holiday shopping frenzy with new merchandise and enticing discounts. In some cases, it’s a great opportunity to buy necessary goods and services at a discounted price. But in reality, shoppers encounter these discounts and buy items that they truthfully don’t need. Another cup used for just one holiday season. Another collectible that sits on a shelf, collecting dust. Another pair of fall boots that end up in the trash by spring. The problem isn’t necessarily the purchasing of materials goods; it’s the mindless purchasing of material goods. It’s a year-long problem that is only exacerbated by the holidays.
People overconsume goods for a variety of reasons. As previously mentioned, limited-time sales and value prices make purchases seem more urgent and necessary – shoppers are constantly chasing better deals, and the holiday season delivers. Moreover, people often prioritize the short-term satisfaction that comes with holiday shopping, instead of prioritizing long-term expenses or goals, making it another common reason for holiday overconsumption. A final, common factor driving overconsumption is the purchasing of goods to express status or superiority – a motive only intensified by social media. Especially through this period of economic hardship, purchasing meaningless luxuries and posting about them is a way for people to flaunt their wealth and stability in a very public manner. But these perceived “benefits” don’t outweigh the impacts that overconsumption has on our current society.
Holiday overconsumption can lead to overspending and debt.
Material products are expensive, especially with record levels of national inflation and rising costs associated with the newly enacted tariffs on international goods. Despite these changes to the national economy, holiday shopping expectations remain high – even if it means substantial credit card debt and emergency fund withdrawals. According to various surveys published by NerdWallet, Americans plan on spending an average of $1,107 on holiday gifts this year and 31% of Americans who used credit cards for 2024 holiday purchases are still paying their debts. Scaling back on holiday shopping, or devaluing costly gifts can help alleviate the stress of overspending and decrease the risk of entering long standing debt, while also combating the overconsumption crisis.
Holiday overconsumption is contributing to the environmental crisis.
Buying things you don’t need now often means you still won’t need them in a year from now. The rapid changes of trend cycles and the low-quality of material goods like fast-fashion pieces contribute to wasteful consumption and global environmental challenges. From production to disposal, fast-fashion, plastics, and electronic items contribute to the release of harmful substances such as phthalates, PFAs, and e-waste components, especially when these objects are disposed of and released into the natural environment. These goods also utilize many resources in their production. In 2024, a BBC report claimed that the fast-fashion industry alone utilized 93 billion cubic meters of water, an alarming number given the scarcity of fresh water in regions around the world.
The short answer to this ever increasing problem is to buy mindfully. It’s easy to get caught up in the season of savings and the appealing holiday merchandise, but it’s more important to consider products that you actually need or items that would actually serve your life with intention. Alternatively, prioritizing shared experiences, such as seeing a show or spending time with family members and friends is a better way to spend your money that doesn’t contribute to materialism of it all. There are better ways to spend your $40 than on a glass, bear-shaped cup that seems impossible to wash and doesn’t fit in a cupholder. It’s not worth overdrafting on your account, it’s not worth the impacts of its disposal next year, and it’s definitely not worth getting into a fight in the Starbucks parking lot.